Carbon/Silicon, featuring — one of my all-time favorite songwriters — Mick Jones (formerly of The Clash and Big Audio Dynamite) and Tony James (formerly of Generation X), have just released their new 12-Song LP entitled The Carbon Bubble. It is available at the Carbon/Silicon site as a free download. THAT’S RIGHT, FREE DOWNLOAD! Get over there, and get it!

Also, for those of you who don’t have it yet, be sure to download their fabulous two-song EP, Maybe That’s The Meaning of Life, as well — co-written and recorded with Gary Kemp (formerly of Spandau Ballet).

I’m playing The Carbon Bubble LP right now as I type, and it is awesome! The tracks “What’s Up Doc” and “The Best Man” — a favorite of mine so far — both have an authentic late 70s punk sound — and could easily pass as early Clash tunes. “Reach For the Sky” is great as well — sort of has that now-familiar Carbon/Silicon sound. “Make it Alright” has an early 60s, garage sound — just fantastic!

Carbon/Silicon have written an awesome album! — definitely, one of the best releases of 2009! Mick Jones has still got it. And now he’s giving it away.

Once you’ve downloaded and had a chance to give it a spin, let us know what you think. Enjoy!

Iggy Pop’s contribution to punk is sometimes discounted in the annals of music history, but just for the record: Iggy Pop was MOST DEFINITELY the first punk, at least in the way the music and style of the genre was defined in the 1970s. Generally, that honor gets bestowed upon bands like The Ramones, The Sex Pistols, or The Damned, but Iggy had been doing this punk thing — musically and stylistically — since his band, The Stooges, released their first album in 1969.

Here’s Iggy Pop playing The Manchester Apollo in 1977 — the same year all the first British punk bands (including The Damned, Sex Pistols, The Clash, etc.) released their debut albums. Watch Iggy’s road crew carry him out onto the stage — wasted — at the beginning of the song, and place him in front of his microphone.

“The Passenger” is an amazing song, from a brilliant album. And this video is quite entertaining as well. Enjoy!:

Iggy Pop’s ‘The Passenger’, and its amazing album, Lust For Life — co-written by David Bowie — can be downloaded here: